J Korean Med Sci.  2015 May;30(5):639-643. 10.3346/jkms.2015.30.5.639.

Increasing Prevalence of Trichophyton rubrum Identified through an Analysis of 115,846 Cases over the Last 37 Years

• Lee WJ
• Kim SL
• Jang YH
• Lee SJ
• Kim DW
• Bang YJ
• Jun JB

• KMID: 2155479
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2015.30.5.639

Abstract

Trichophyton rubrum is the most common dermatophyte in the world with the highest prevalence in Korea. There are few reports about epidemiological and mycological characteristics of T. rubrum based on long-term, large-scale studies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of T. rubrum infections in Korea. We retrospectively investigated with patients' records about the epidemiological and mycological status of 115,846 cases with T. rubrum infection that was mycologically diagnosed at Catholic Skin Disease Clinic from 1979 to 2013. Direct microscopy in 15% KOH solution and culture was done in each case. The annual incidence of patients with T. rubrum infection had been increasing during the period; and of 131,122 patients with dermatophytosis, 115,846 patients (88.35%) had T. rubrum infection. Disease was most prevalent among patients in their twenties in the 1970s and 1980s; in their thirties in the 1990s; in their forties in the 2000s; and in their fifties in the 2010s. The sex ratio was 1.5:1. T. rubrum infection was most commonly seen in summer and was found predominantly in patients living in urban areas. Toe webs were most frequently involved, followed by toenails and groin. This epidemiologic findings provide useful information for prevention of T. rubrum infection and future dermatophytosis prospects.

Keyword

Dermatophytosis; Epidemiology; Incidence; Mycology; Trichophyton rubrum

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Prevalence
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Retrospective Studies
Seasons
Sex Factors
Tinea/*epidemiology/microbiology/pathology
Trichophyton/*isolation & purification
Urban Population

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Annual number of patients with T. rubrum infection.

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  Fig. 2 Prevalence of T. rubrum infection in all dermatophytoses.

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  Fig. 3 Age distribution of patients with T. rubrum infection.

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  Fig. 4 Age distribution of patients with T. rubrum infection by decade.

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  Fig. 5 Proportion of male to female patients with T. rubrum infection by decade.

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  Fig. 6 Proportion between male and female by age.

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